Suppository



Sept. 22, 1942. s. KLINGHOFFER SUPPOSIITORY' Filed July so, 1941 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to suppositories to be introduced into the vagina, urethra or rectum, and more particularly to suppositories containing a predetermined amount of radioactive matter such as radon.

The therapeutical properties of ,radon are well known. It is also known that medicinal prepae rations containing a comparatively small amount of radon are completely harmless to thehuman body. Nevertheless, the application of radon containing medicinal preparations has met with many difficulties due to thefact that the-radon disintegrates after a very short time, a few days or a week at the most, losing its radioactive properties. Hence, medicinal preparations, such as suppositories, cannot be stored for any length of time if they shall not lose their radioactivity.

In accordance with the invention this drawback is overcome by maintaining the. radioactivity of the suppository at a predetermined constant value. To this end, greasy or pasty matter, such as oil of theobroma or coconut butter is first rendered radioactive, for instanceby impregnating and mixing it with radon gas. ,The thus prepared greasy matter is shaped into the usual elongated cone shaped bodies. A member which generates radon atoms and which for the sake of simplicity is referred to in the following as a radioactive stabilizer is now introduced into the shaped greasy body. This radioactive stabilizer consists of a flat member which bears a radon producing material. The radioactive stabilizer may be provided with a hole which is filled with a radon containing or generating material. The latter is closed in such a manner that the number of radon atoms which are generated per time-unit is equal to the number of atoms produced by decomposition or disintegration of the radon containing substance. Thus it is possible that the total amount of radon atoms which are present in the substance used for therapeutical purposes does not undergo a change for any length of time. The radioactivity will be constant and will neither have decreased nor increased to any appreciable extent.

The cone shaped greasy material is enclosed in a tight fitting casing which is provided with a cover. The radioactive stabilizer is inserted into the cone through a hole of this cover and can be easily removed therefrom. The greasy body with its cover closed casing and the inserted stabilizer are enclosed in an open tubeshaped container having preferably one closed end portion of reduced diameter. The reduced end portion of the tube serves to support the cone containing casing. The tube may be provided with a screw thread and a correspondingly threaded closing plug. Alternatively the tube may be closed with a stopper.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the plug or stopper bears against the radioactive stabilizer so that the suppository including the stabilizer is supported between the reduced end portion of the tube and its closing member. The suppository may also be enclosed in a glass tube having a reduced end portion. Afterintroduction of the suppository the upper end .of the glass tube may be closed with a stopper of glass wool and closed by melting it off.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved suppository containing a predetermined amount of radioactive matter such as radon.

Another. object of the invention is to provide a device which renders it possiblev to maintain the radioactivity of. a suppository at a predetermined constant rate.

Still an object of the invention is to provide a suppository of the character referred to which is.provided with a removable radioactive stabilizer and supported in a tube shaped container.

These and further objects of the invention will become more app-arentwhen the description proceeds, taken in connection with the drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a suppository in accordance with the invention and Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view according to line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my improved suppository comprises an elongated body I0 having a cone shaped end portion. Body I0 consists of a greasy matter as is well known to those skilled in the art, such as e. g. oil of theobroma or coconut butter. Body I0 is enclosed in a tight fitting casing I I having an open top and which may consist of a cellulose derivative. Casing I I is provided with a closure cap I2. The latter is provided with an opening I4 which permits the insertion of the radioactive stabilizer I5. Radioactive stabilizer I5 is key-shaped and has a lower elongated portion I6 provided with a hole IT. The portion I6 of stabilizer I5 extends into body IIJ. Hole I1 is filled with a radon generating material. Casing II cover cap I2 and stabilizer I5 are enclosed in the tube-shaped container I8. The latter has a body portion 20 of reduced diameter which supports the conical end portion of casing II. Tube I8 is tightly closed by stopper 2| which bears against the upper end of stabilizer I5. Hence, it will be seen that body l carrying casing II is supported by the reduced portion 20 of tube l8 and by stopper 2|.

The greasy matter of body I0 is first mixed with radon gas. This may be done in the following manner. The air is evacuated from the container which is provided .with a stirrer and a heating device. The evacuated container is now connected with a storage vessel containing radon gas; then the material from which the suppository is formed is introduced into the container which is still partly evacuated. The con-. tainer is heated and the material contained,

therein stirred to effect a mixture of radon with the suppository material. The thus prepared mixture is shaped into the form of the body II].

My suppository may be stored for any length of time and it will always retain its predetermined radioactivity due to the action of the radioactive stabilizer I5.

When it is desired to use the suppository, stopper 2| is removed from container l8. Then radioactive stabilizer I5 and closure member I2 are removed and body discharged from casing H by slight pressure. The suppository is now ready for use.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction of the invention without departing from the broader spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A suppository comprising a radon carrying body of a pasty medicinal material, a casing for said body, a removable radioactive stabilizer having a head portion protruding from said body and a lower portion in said body forcarrying a radon producing material, an open end container enclosing said casing and the head portion of said stabilizer, said container having a reduced end portion supporting said casing and a closure member for closing the open end of said container.

2. A suppository comprising a radon carrying conical body of a pasty material, a casing for said body, a removable fiat radioactive stabilizer having a lower portion extending into said body and through said cover aperture into said body and a .cavity in said lower portion for the reception of a radon producing substance, a tube shaped open end container enclosing said casing, said container having a reduced end portion supporting said casing and a closure member for closing the open end of said container.

45A suppository comprising a radon carrying elongated conical body of a pasty material, a casing for said body, a cover for said casing, an ap-,

erture in said cover, a tube shaped open end container enclosing said casing, a removable flat radioactive stabilizer having a lower portion carrying a radon producing substance extending through said cover aperture in said body and an enlarged head bearing against the inner wall of said container, said container having a reduced end portion supporting said casing and a closure member for closing the upper end of said container.

5. A suppository comprising a radon carrying elongated conical body of a pasty material, a casing for said body, a cover for said casing, an aperture in said cover, a tube-shaped open-end container enclosing said casing, a removable fiat radioactive stabilizer having a lower portion carrying a radon producing substance extending through said aperture in said body and an enlarged wedge-shaped head, said container having a reduced end portion supporting said casing and a closure member for closing the upper end of said container, said stabilizer bearing with its wedge-shaped head against said closure member and with its side parts against the inner wall of said tube shaped container.

STEFAN KLINGHOFFER. 

